Florida Department of Veterans' Affairshttp://floridavets.org
Connecting veterans to federal and state benefits they have earned.Tue, 18 Dec 2018 18:26:31 +0000en-UShourly1Governor Proclaims Dec. 16 as Battle of the Bulge Day in Floridahttp://floridavets.org/governor-proclaims-dec-16-as-battle-of-the-bulge-day-in-florida-2/
Fri, 14 Dec 2018 20:24:54 +0000http://floridavets.org/?p=7073TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott has signed the annual Battle of the Bulge Day in Florida Proclamation. Dec. 16, 2018 marks the 74th anniversary of the last major German offensive on the western front during World War II. The battle, which lasted until Jan. 25, 1945, resulted in an Allied victory and subsequent German surrender in May 1945. More than 600,000 American troops participated in the winter battle, which included more than 19,000 American soldiers who lost their lives.

More than 61,000 World War II veterans currently reside in the Sunshine State.

“This new collaboration with the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay and the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs will play a vital role in our suicide prevention efforts,” said Dr. Miguel LaPuz, VA Sunshine Healthcare Network (VISN 8) Director. “Connecting veterans who are experiencing an emotional or mental health crisis with certified veteran counselors at 2-1-1 Centers across Florida can and will save lives.”

The funding provides necessary resources to place veteran resource management staff and Veteran Peer Care Coordinators at local, non-profit organizations throughout Florida who answer calls from the Florida Veterans Support Line. Funding also provides technical assistance to those local organizations. Through veteran resource management staff, a database of VA and Non-VA community resources helpful to veterans will be created and maintained through this project. Veteran Peer Care Coordinators provide follow-up, short-term support to veterans who call 1-844-MyFLVet and 2-1-1. These veteran peers are able to easily relate to veteran callers because of similar life experiences that are unique to the veteran community.

“Peer to Peer support is proven to be extremely effective in connecting veterans to the network of help they need and deserve. By talking with a fellow veteran, these men and women have the opportunity to work with someone who has walked a mile in their shoes. Because of this, there is already a baseline of trust established as we work to help the veteran,” said Clara Reynolds, President & CEO of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.

The VA funding provides the next step in implementing a model of care for Florida’s veterans modeled after the peer function of the national Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255 and press 1) and innovated for statewide use by the Crisis Center. The Crisis Center first launched the Florida Veterans Support Line in 2014 as a five-county pilot program. The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs was instrumental in the launch of the program and continues to provide support in facilitating inter-agency collaboration for 1-844-MyFLVet.

In late 2017, the Florida Veterans Support Line expanded from the five-county pilot stage to being answered statewide through a network of local agencies who answer calls to 2-1-1. The Crisis Center is in the final stages of securing additional, necessary funding to further enhance services provided by the Florida Veterans Support Line.

“This is a heartfelt, collaborative effort among government and private entities to reduce the number of veteran suicides in our state through intervention and education,” said Glenn Sutphin, executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. “Our goal is to bring awareness that we all have a hand to play in crisis intervention to tackle a very real public health challenge. The formal collaboration announced today will help save lives.”

]]>Governor Proclaims December 7 as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Dayhttp://floridavets.org/governor-proclaims-december-7-as-pearl-harbor-remembrance-day-2/
Thu, 06 Dec 2018 22:19:53 +0000http://floridavets.org/?p=7049TALLAHASSEE – Gov. Rick Scott has signed the annual Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Proclamation. Dec. 7, 2018 marks the 77th anniversary of the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, which led to America’s entry into World War II.

More than 61,000 World War II veterans currently reside in the Sunshine State.

]]>Gov. Scott Recognizes Three Veterans with Governor’s Medal of Merithttp://floridavets.org/gov-scott-recognizes-three-veterans-with-governors-medal-of-merit/
Wed, 05 Dec 2018 15:39:15 +0000http://floridavets.org/?p=7035TALLAHASSEE – During the final Cabinet Meeting of his administration, Gov. Rick Scott recognized three Florida veterans with the Governor’s Medal of Merit.

Retired Army Lt. Col. Glenn W. Sutphin Jr. entered active duty service as an enlisted soldier in 1969, received his commission as a Field Artillery Officer, and finished his military service in the Florida National Guard. The colonel, who is qualified in five branches of the Army, led soldiers in seven operational deployments during his 30 years in uniform before retiring in 1999. His personal awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, three Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, an Army Achievement Medal and four Humanitarian Service Medals. He is a recipient of several National Guard decorations, including the Florida Cross, the Florida National Guard’s highest award. On Aug. 2, 2016, he was appointed by Governor Scott as Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Retired Col. Charles Mohr is an Army veteran who enlisted in the Florida Army National Guard in January 1949. He advanced to the rank of Master Sergeant prior to his discharge on March 14, 1954, when he accepted his commission as a Second Lieutenant, Infantry Officer. He retired at the rank of Colonel in 1986. His military awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two hours glasses, Reserve Components Achievement Medal with three bronze clusters, NCO Professional Development Medal with numeral one, Army Service Ribbon, Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon with numeral three, Florida Cross, Florida Distinguished Service Medal with silver cluster, Florida Commendation Medal with silver cluster, Florida State Active Duty Ribbon, Florida Recruiting Ribbon and the Florida Meritorious Service Ribbon with silver cluster. Now, Colonel Mohr is a tireless advocate for veterans through the Tallahassee Lions Club, the Florida National Guard State Family Readiness Advisory Team and the Military Officers Association of America.

Maj. Gen. Michael A. Calhoun assumed duties as the Adjutant General of Florida on March 29, 2015. He previously served as the Assistant Adjutant General-Army and as the Director of the Joint Staff for the Florida National Guard. Following graduation from Florida A&M University, General Calhoun enlisted as a Private in the Florida National Guard in August 1977. After a six-year break in service, he received a direct commission and appointment to 1st Lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps on July 22, 1989. His follow-on assignments include Chief of Pharmacy Services, 131st Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH); Executive Officer, 131st MASH; Logistics Officer, 50th Area Support Group (ASG); Director, Host Nations Support, 50th ASG and Director, Support Operations, 50th ASG. General Calhoun deployed with the 50th ASG in 2003 as Director of Host Nations Support during Operation Iraqi Freedom and served as Deputy Commander, Task Force (FL) in Mississippi during Hurricane Katrina.

Ashton Adler is an exceptionally active volunteer with Honor Flight South Florida. The mission of Honor Flight South Florida is to transport World War II veterans and veterans of subsequent conflicts to Washington, D.C., allowing them to visit the memorials honoring their service and sacrifices.

With more than 1,000 World War II veterans dying nationally every day, Ashton works tirelessly to raise awareness of the organization and recruit participants from Broward, Monroe and Dade counties. Since Ashton joined the Board of Directors in 2013, she has served as the Secretary, Meeting Coordinator and Guardian Trainer for Honor Flight South Florida. She has arranged silent auctions to raise money for the organization and hosted appreciation events for veterans throughout the year. In that time, the organization has grown from 16 veterans on the initial flight to more than 500 participating veterans.

The Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame recognizes and honors those military veterans who, through their works and lives during or after military service, have made a significant contribution to the state of Florida through civic, business, public service or other pursuits. It is not a traditional military hall of fame, as it focuses on post-military contributions to the State of Florida.

]]>State Converting Former VA Facility in Orlando to State Veterans’ Homehttp://floridavets.org/state-converting-former-va-facility-in-orlando-to-state-veterans-home/
Tue, 13 Nov 2018 14:32:46 +0000http://floridavets.org/?p=6970ORLANDO – The former VA Community Living Center on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Campus at Lake Baldwin in Orange County is being converted to a 114-bed state veterans’ home. The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs accepted title of the facility in August 2018 and is preparing a nine-month refurbishment to prepare the facility for residents.

The building, dedicated in 1999, was converted to clinical and office use by the VA approximately six years ago, when a newer community living center was opened at the VA’s new Lake Nona campus.

“No timeline has been set for reopening the Lake Baldwin facility to local area veterans, as inspections, federal and state budgeting and upcoming renovations must be considered,” said Steve Murray, spokesperson for the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. “The new home will eventually be renamed for an eligible Florida Medal of Honor recipient, as with other facilities in our network of state veterans’ homes.”

Information on hiring of staff and admission of residents will be released in the months leading to the opening.

]]>Florida Launches Paychecks for Patriot Initiative to Connect Veterans to Jobshttp://floridavets.org/florida-launches-paychecks-for-patriot-initiative-to-connect-veterans-to-jobs/
Fri, 09 Nov 2018 20:25:56 +0000http://floridavets.org/?p=6975TALLAHASSEE – This week, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) announced the official start of the 2018 Paychecks for Patriots events, which connect veterans with great careers in their communities. To celebrate Veterans Day this month, DEO is sharing resources available for veterans and recognizing our partners that excel in serving Florida’s veterans.

“As a veteran and the son of a World War II veteran, I am proud of all our work to create jobs for veterans and all Florida families,” said Gov. Rick Scott. “Since 2010, thanks to Florida’s hardworking businesses and these important programs, our state’s veteran unemployment rate has dropped by more than six percentage points, and, overall during past eight years, Florida businesses have created more than 1.6 million jobs and the unemployment rate is currently at the lowest point in more than 11 years. This is great news for the many veterans and military families that call Florida home.”

Paychecks for Patriots is a partnership with DEO, the CareerSource Florida network, the Florida National Guard, the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs and participating Florida employers to hold job fairs for veterans and their families. CareerSource Florida centers across the state will be hosting Paychecks for Patriots events throughout the month of November, to help build connections between veteran jobseekers and Florida’s job creators. The employers will include national companies, as well as many local businesses. More than 2,100 military and veteran candidates and their family members who participated in prior Paychecks for Patriots events across the state have gained employment.

“We are proud to recognize the critical work our partners in the CareerSource network have done to help veterans in their communities find good jobs after serving our country,” said DEO Executive Director Cissy Proctor. “Connecting Florida’s more than 1.5 million veterans to employers across our state is why Florida is the most military- and veteran-friendly state in the nation.”

“Our veterans have proven leadership and technical skills, the ability to work under pressure and a strong sense of integrity and teamwork,” said Glenn Sutphin, executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. “Job creators are eager to hire candidates with these values. Hiring veterans is an employer’s best bet.”

Veterans Florida Executive Director Joe Marino said, “Veterans Florida is excited to participate in Paychecks for Patriots events across the state as we fulfill our mission of attracting and retaining military talent in Florida’s workforce. Veterans bring a unique set of skills that play a critical role in Florida’s economy as it continues to modernize and expand into high-growth sectors such as tech and aerospace. I’d like to thank the Department of Economic Opportunity, CareerSource, their partner organizations, and Governor Scott for holding forward-thinking initiatives such as Paychecks for Patriots and recognizing the importance of connecting Florida’s military community with its private sector employers.”

Additional resources for veterans and military families in Florida include:

Throughout the year, employers post positions specifically targeting veterans in Florida. Veterans can search for jobs on the Employ Florida Vets portal at https://veteran.employflorida.com.

DEO also created the interactive Employ Florida Veteran Map. The map shows the location where veterans have registered in the Employ Florida system by each CareerSource region. The map displays the census tract of registered veterans as an aggregation from 2014 to 2017. The map can be found here.

The CareerSource Florida network employs more than 170 veteran employment specialists, who are also veterans themselves and are dedicated to helping veterans find employment. More information on other veteran employment programs, such as the Military Family Employment Advocacy Program can be found here.

]]>Construction Begins on Veterans’ Home in Port St. Luciehttp://floridavets.org/construction-begins-on-veterans-home-in-port-st-lucie/
Wed, 07 Nov 2018 16:02:35 +0000http://floridavets.org/?p=6962PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Progress continues on the new 120-bed Ardie R. Copas State Veterans’ Nursing Home in St. Lucie County following the March 20, 2018 groundbreaking ceremony.

“We’re finishing the leveling and drainage of the 28-acre property and are preparing to pour the foundation in anticipation of construction,” said Steve Murray, spokesperson for the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. “We hope to complete the home in late 2019 and open to residents in early 2020.”

The veterans’ home is named in honor of a Medal of Honor recipient from the Vietnam War — Fort Pierce and St. Lucie County native Sgt. Ardie R. Copas, who was killed in Cambodia in May 1970.

The veterans’ home will feature a total of 120 beds in two neighborhoods each consisting of three houses of 20 beds. One neighborhood of 60 beds will be devoted to residents with Alzheimer’s/Dementia. Most residences are two-person semi-private rooms, with separate living areas and a shared bathroom. Included in the overall design are six bariatric rooms and six private rooms.

Once opened, approximately 175 health care, food service, maintenance and administrative staff will oversee the skilled nursing facility. Information on hiring of staff and admission of residents will be released in the months leading to the opening.

The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs operates six award-winning veterans’ nursing homes in Daytona Beach, Land O’ Lakes, Pembroke Pines, Panama City, Port Charlotte and St. Augustine and one veterans’ assisted living facility in Lake City.